P.M.ers Home Group Tuesday 8^th February

In last weeks HG we discussed if there was a significance in that why in Matthew at the last supper we find that all the disciples refer to Jesus as Lord (Master in The Message) and Judas calls Him Teacher or Rabbi.

Here's a couple of thoughts on the matter:

Matt: 26.14-25

²⁰After sunset, he and the Twelve were sitting around the table. ²¹During the meal, he said, "I have something hard but important to say to you: one of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators."  ²²They were stunned, and then began to ask, one after another, "It isn't me, is it, Master?"   ²³Jesus answered, "The one who hands me over is someone I eat with daily, one who passes me food at the table. ²⁴In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures - no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man - better never to have been born than do this!"   ²⁵Then Judas, already turned traitor, said, "It isn't me, is it, Rabbi?"   Jesus said, "Don't play games with me, Judas."

– The Message

Points:

Judas was chosen by Jesus as one of the twelve. There were obviously others to choose from.

Judas as far as we know was on the Ministry Team who went out and preached God’s Word. Matthew 10:4-7. Jesus commanded the twelve disciples (INCLUDING JUDAS) to go forth and to preach the good news about the kingdom.

It is probable that Judas even performed miracles. In Matthew 10:1 we learn that Jesus gave His twelve disciples (INCLUDING JUDAS) power against unclean spirits and power to heal all manner of sickness (see also Matthew 10:8).

Every indication seems to be that Judas did the stuff just like the other disciples.

Consider this:

Jesus said that he would be betrayed by the one "who dips his hand into the bowl with me." To share a bowl with Jesus meant that Judas was sitting in a position of honour and trust. All of that possibly makes his betrayal more painful.

We discussed : "why did Judas betray Jesus?"

• Did he do it for the money?
• Was it because he was disappointed in this Peaceful Messiah (perhaps he wanted a suitably bloody revolution to kick out the oppressors!)? In Exodus 21:32 we are told that the price paid for killing someone’s slave was 30 pieces of silver. Had Judas betrayed Jesus long ago by considering him one who had not fulfilled expectations?
• Perhaps Judas had never come to know Jesus as Lord.
• Maybe it was in the translation.

  The 4 Gospels were written for different audiences. Matthew’s was for the Jewish community. They might not question the term Rabbi at all as indeed they would recognize Jesus as a great teacher and the book does go on to prove Jesus divinity in no uncertain terms.

The bottom line is we just don’t know.

Maybe it is significant that Matthew doesn’t spell out Judas’s motivations. It leaves lots of room for us to consider the many reasons why people betray others. Even betray God. Perhaps that what God intended when he inspired Matthew to write his book.

So what?-

God uses anyone and everyone to achieve His purposes.

Even backstabbers and doubters. Even people like me, who personally feel that Judas was given a huge bummer of a job to bring about The Lords prophesies. And Thank God that he did.

Sometimes God asks us to do stuff we don’t feel comfortable with. Cringe worthy stuff like listening to a tambourine in church services. But hey, if it glorifies the name and the works of a God who died so that I can be free of my worries and hang ups, what have I got to lose?

Here in Preston we live a very liberated life in comparison to struggling Christians around the globe. Our outreach projects will not cost you anything apart from a bit of unease and personal embarrassment. It’s not about how we feel, it’s about Jesus, it’s about his sacrifice for all. All of the lost, and lonely, the poor, the sick. Everyone who does not recognise Jesus as Lord. All the Judas’s.

I did a prayer tally during my stint at the 24/7. I thought of people whos circles I regularly move in who I knew for definite are non believers. Then I prayed for them.I tallied 62!

Did I feel depressed? No way. I felt inspired – what a “People in Progress� list.

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